9 Bangkok golf courses approved by a pro

Overlooking the Bangkok Golf Club course. Not a skyscraper or traffic jam in sight.

Most golfers visiting Thailand head straight to Hua Hin or Pattaya, not realizing there are plenty of fine Bangkok golf courses -- many of which are pretty sweet.

But don’t take our word for it. We asked Michael Van Amelsvort, director of golf at Springfield Resort near Hua Hin, one of Thailand’s top resorts, where he tees off when he comes to Bangkok.Given that he’s been working at a Jack Nicklaus-designed course for the past nine years, first as a golf pro and now director, we figured he’d pick out a few golf courses in and around Bangkok worth trying. And did he ever. Nine of them.

1. Rajpruek Golf Course

“It’s a private course in great condition in a great location.”

Rajpreuk is an 18-hole multi-level golf course on a 355-rai property. There's a practice green next to the clubhouse as well as a sport club with three swimming pools, squash courts, a childcare center and snooker room, among other features.

2. Bangsai Country Club

“Near Ayudhaya, it’s the only course in Thailand with sand dunes. A bit of links-style golf in the middle of the rice paddies.”

Bangsai Country Club has an 18-hole par-72 course designed by Thai architect Pirapon Namatra who apparently built it with the glens of Scotland in mind. It's about a 50-minute drive from Bangkok, but worth the distance since the course is challenging.

3. Panya Golf Course

“This one’s in the Ram Indra area. Great looking caddies and the course is in good condition.”Panya Golf Course is actually made up of three pro-level nine-hole courses, each with its own unique design and setting. The courses were designed by American Ronald Fream and sit on 800-rai of land. Night golf is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

9 Ram Intra Road. Tel. +66 (0)2 943 0000

4. Legacy Golf Course

“Also in the Ram Indra area, a classic Nicklaus design right in the city.”Legacy Golf Course is the only Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Bangkok and hence is fairly challenging. It sits between two lakes, which come into play on almost half the holes. There's a large clubhouse with several restaurants and function rooms.18 Moo 7, Llab Klong Song Road, next to Safari World in the Minburi area. Tel. +66 (0)2 914 1930

5. Thai Country Club

“It’s a private course with a great clubhouse and excellent course conditions. Five-star service.”

Opened in 1996, the golf course at the prestigious Thai Country Clubwas designed under PGA international standards by Denis Griffiths, who at the time was president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. But the biggest claim to fame of this 7,157-yard course is that it hosted the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, won by Tiger Woods.

88 Moo 1, Bangna-Trad Km. 35.5. Tel. +66 (0)2 651 5300-6

6. Alpine Golf Course

“Another private course in good condition with a great clubhouse. Nice layout, too.”

Alpine Golf Course was actually built on 770-rai of flat rice paddies. The American designer managed to build grass-covered hills on the vast flatlands, topped by hundreds of trees and high-grade sand. The 18-hole 72-par championship course measures 7,100 yards in length.

99 Moo 9, Bangkhan-Sathaneevithayu Road. Tel. +66 (0)2 577 3333

7. Bangkok Golf Club

"It’s in a good location, the course is in fine condition and it has a nice club atmosphere. I used to be a member and also did an internship there.”

The massive Bangkok Golf Club is indeed impressive, featuring an 18-hole course, driving range, spa resort and, perhaps coolest of all, a nine-hole course with only par-3 holes, all of which were modeled after some of the most famous in the world, including Pebble Beach hole number seven.

99 Moo 2 Tiwanon Road, Patumthani. Tel. +66 (0)2 501 2828

8. Lam Luk Ka Golf Course

“Beautiful layout and the course is usually in very good condition.”

This huge country club actually has two 18-hole courses, the Championship East Course and Resort West. The back nine on the East is particularly challenging. The West course is shorter, but water comes into play on 15 holes. Other Lam Luk facilities include Thai and international restaurants, a driving range and putting green.